Journal lubricator



June 13, 1939. J. J. Hl-:NNEssY 1 v 2,162,383

` JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. 15, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 1 June 13, 1939. J. J. HENNESSY` JOURNAL LUBRI CATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1954l June 13, 1939 J. J. HENNEssY 162,383y

JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. l5, 1934 /m/en/of Henney.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes and may be separately formed as a unit and applied lubricators particularly adapted for application to railway vehicle journals.

A patent, No. 1,948,297, issued February 20, 1934 to the present inventor, illustrates a mechanical journal lubricating device for use in connection with American Railway Association standard journal boxes and including a rugged pump operated by means of an arm contacting with the end of the journal, an upwardly disposed telescoping conduit having a flexible discharge cup engaging the journal, and a pan partially supported by the pump body for supporting lubricant distributing waste in contact with the journal.

The use of waste for this purpose is accompanied by certain disadvantages, such as a tendency of the waste to settle away from the journal due to vibration, its failure to deliver adequate lubricant under unfavorable conditions frequently prevailing, and the necessity of using lubricant of very light grade or of low viscosity which will feed suiciently rapidly by capillary attraction. This lubricant, because of low viscosity, is frequently improper for the service it is intended to perform. The waste also requires frequent inspection and repacking.

Also in order to apply or remove the lubricating device illustrated in the above patent, it is necessary to jack up the journal box, remove the bearing brass and wedge, and then drop the box onto the journal.

One object of the present invention is to provide adequate means for lubricating railway vehicle journals without the use of Waste.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanical lubricator for railway journals which may be removed from its operating position in the journal box without the vnecessity of jacking up the box and removing the bearing brass and Wedge.

Another object is to provide for improved distribution of journal lubricant by utilizing pads of felt or other material for this purpose, and also to provide simple and efficient means for .mounting the pads adjacent the journal.

Another object is to provide novel means for maintaining the pump in position in the lower part of the box or in the box cellar.

Another object is to provide means for adequately lubricating the out-turned offset fillet at the inner end of the journal.

Another object is to prevent loss of lubricant due to splashing or spilling through the openings between the journal and the inner wall of the journal box or cellar and around the box door in the outer wall thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel valve structure for lubricator pumps, which structure to the pump as needed.

These objects and others are attended substantially by the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- 5 Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a railway truck journal box and journal with one form of the novel lubricator mechanism applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken l0 on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical transverse section taken on the broken line 3 3 of Figure 4, the pump being omitted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through l5 the center of the box illustrating the top of the lubricator mechanism, the journal being indicated in broken lines.

Figure 5 is a partial vertical longitudinal section similar to Figure l but showing a modca- 20 tion.

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section showing another modification and is taken on the line -G of Figure 7.

Figure 'l is a vertical transverse section taken 25 on the line l-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top View of the distributor mechanism shown Yin Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse section showing another modification. 30

Figurel is a vertical section illustrating an enlarged detail.

Figure 11 is a top view of the structure in Figure 10.

Figures 12 and 13 are partial vertical sections 35 taken longitudinally of the journal and showing still other modications.

In Figures 1 to 4, inclusive is illustrated a slightly modified A. R. A. journal box I for pedestal type tender trucks and receiving the journal portion 2 of the axle 3 which supports the box and truck frame (not shown) through the usual bearing brass Il and wedge 5. The box at the rear end is provided with double walls 6 and l receiving therebetween the dust guard 6 of wood 45 or other suitable material. At the front end is a swinging door 9 permitting access to the` interior of the box. The lower portion of the box beneath the journal, indicated generally at I0, constitutes a lubricant cellar.

Resting in a depression II in the floor of the box is the pump body I2 receiving the piston I3 and actuator I4 and having jaws I5 pivotally mounting the curved arm I5 extending around the collar I1 on the journal and engaging the end 55 of the axle, and a finger I8 rigid with arm IS. At the inner end of the pump body is the valve structure, generally indicated at I9, and a concave seat 20 communicating through the passage 2l with the valve .structure and pump cylinder. 60

The pump body is secured in position by a central plate 22 having recesses 22a, cooperating with the projections 22h on the inner sides of the journal box to secure the plate in position. 'I'he pump body has a lug 23 resting on the depending element 24 of the plate 22 for holding the plate against vertical movement in the box. In case no suitable projections are provided on the inner walls of the box, the holding plate 22 may be Welded to the bottom or sides thereof or the plates 34 and 35, referred to hereafter, may be relied upon to maintain the pump in position.

Pivoted on the seat 28 in the pump body is the upwardly disposed delivery conduit device including the telescopingly assembled apertured elements 25, 26 and 21 having shoulders preventing disassembly thereof in the extended direction. Seated against a collar 28 on the lowermost element 25 is the coiled spring 29 bearing at the top against the plate 3U, which in tulrn supports the topmost element 21 of the conduit and maintains thesame extended upwardly and in yielding engagement with the surface of the journal.

Supported by the delivery conduit device adjacent the journal is the pan 3| Within which are a series of pads 32 of felt, or other closely packed fibrous or absorbent material, which engage the journal and serve to distribute the lubricant uniformly thereon. The pan 3| is supported from the plate 30, independently of the topmost conduit element 21, by means of a coiled spring 33. The element 21 constitutes a delivery cup cooperating with the pads 32 to apply and distribute the lubricant.

The plates 34 and 35 at the bottom of the box are separate from the central holding plate 22 and have lips extending beneath the same, as at 34a, to maintain the end plates in position. Mounted on the plates 34 and 35 are the springs 36 to which are secured the backing elementsV 31 and the flexible pads 38 and 39, preferably of leather. 'I'he pad 38 extends along the inner surface of the inner dust collector wall 1 and snugly engages the shouldered fillet 4|) on the journal and serves to insure proper lubrication of the fillet and to wipe excess lubricant therefrom. The member 38 also prevents the splashing or spilling of lubricant through the recesses 4| provided for receiving the axle.

The plate 35 and the springs 36 at the outer end of the box are bent to conform with the curved outer wall 42, and the flexible member 39 extends substantially above the lower edge of the door 9 and serves to prevent splashing or spilling of lubricant around the edges of the door, particularly in case the vehicle is bodily tilted in ,dumping It will be understood that relative lateral movement of the journal within the journal box will cause reciprocation of the pump piston I3, *through the curved arm |6 and linger I8, alternately drawing lubricant through the bottom of the valve structure, to be further described hereafter, and forcing the same through the passage 2| and apertured members 25, 26, and 21 to the distributor pan. A substantial quantity of lubricant will be maintained in the bottom of the box and this will be repeatedly drawn through the lubricator without substantial loss due to the oil guards 38 and 39 which are maintained in their operating positions by the springs 36.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate in greater detail the unit valve structure I9 including the cylindrical body part 61 having recesses 68 and 69 for the Iball checks 10 and 1| which are limited in their movements by the plugs 12 and 13 pressed or screwed into the recesses. Lubricant is drawn into the pump cylinder 14 through the inlet aperture 15 and is forced through the passage 16 past the ball check 1| into the upwardly disposed delivery conduit (see Figure 1). The valve unit is preferably pressed into a cylindrical depression provided in the pump body. If it is desired to have longer pump cylinder, or if the pump body must be shortened for any reason, the unit valve could be located at the side of the cylinder instead of directly in line therewith, as shown.

In Figures 5 and 8, the delivery conduit device includes the shouldered telescoping elements 43, 44, and 45. The topmost element 45 is of transversely curved construction so as to extend partially around the under surface of the journal and has the apertured lugs 46 at its extremities. Pinned to the lugs 46 are a pair of pans 41. Within the pans 41 are the felt pads 48 independently pressed against the journal by the springs 49. The delivery conduit is yieldingly maintained in its extended position and the pans 41 are supported by means of springs (not shown) corresponding to the coiled springs 29 and 33 in Figure 1. The journal engaging member 45 has the lips 50 overhanging the inner walls of the pans 41 to insure the passage of lubricant there- Jinto. 'Ihe type of pan in this form may be bent `or folded to facilitate insertion into small boxes, or where the space between the end of the journal and the end of the box is restricted.

In Figures 6 and 7, the distributor device is suplported by the coiled springs 52 seated on the apertured upper and lower members 53 and 54, the telescoping delivery members in the previous 'form being omitted. The lower member 54 rests in the concave seat 55 in the end of the pump body 56. The spring 52 directly supports the pan or subcellar5|,which is free of the upper delivery member 53, and supports the pans 68 and felt pads 59 through springs 58. Lubricant is forced by the pump through the flexible conduit 51, connecting upper and lower members 53 and 54, to the distributor pan.

Within the pan 5| are a pair of individual distributor units, each unit including a series oi felt pads 59 and the sheet metal casing 60. The assembly of each unit is maintained by means of wires or rods 6| extending through the pads and the end walls of the casing 60. The undersurfaces of the pads are recessed, as at 62, to facilitate the distribution of lubricant across the pads. The distributor units described may be stored assembled and conveniently applied to the lubricators as needed. These pads ordinarily require renewal after approximately a year of use.

In Figure 9, the topmost member 63 of the telescoping delivery conduit, generally indicated at 64, is formed as an integral part of the distributor, pan 65 having recesses for the felt Dads 66.

In Figure l2, the plate 11 holding the pump body 18 in position engages and rests on the side walls of the box 19. On the outer end of the plate is a chamber mounting a coiled spring 8| and a plunger 82 which yieldingly engages the lugr 83 on the curved outer Wall of the box beneath the cover 84 and urges the inner edge of the plate against the inner end wall of the box. The plate is supported adjacent the pump body on a depending lug or rib 85. In inserting the plate, the plunger is snapped into position inside the lug 83. The plate may be provided with other spring structure, if desired, and this structure may engage any other suitable projection or shoulder on the interior of the box to yieldingly maintain the plate in position. In withdrawing the plate, the spring structure is forcibly compressed in order to pass the cooperating lug or shoulder on the journal box.

Figure 13 illustrates a different manner of maintaining the pump body in position in the bo-x. Projecting from the bottom wall 86 of the box are the integral lugs 81 and 88 by which the pump is properly positioned and prevented from moving laterally in the box. The springs 89 and 96 resist vertical movement of the pump body in the box. No holding plate is used.

In each of the lubricator devices illustrated, the upwardly disposed delivery conduit may be collapsed suiciently to permit the withdrawal of the device from its operating position beneath the journal, without the necessity of removing the bearing brass and wedge, in case it is desired to repack the box with waste on the road due to heating. The lubricator is formed essentially of two assembled units, one including the pump, valve structure, and actuating arm, and the other including the upwardly disposed delivery conduit and the pan for supporting lubricant distributing material. This facilitates and simplifies application of the lubricator to the box.

The devices above described eliminate all the disadvantages incident to the use of waste packing, while at the same time providing ample lubrication for the journal with the use of a minimum quantity of lubricant. The flexible strips at the ends of the box satisfactorily prevent oil losses due to splashing and spilling, and also prevent oil escaping longitudinally along the journal since as long as the journal conforms with permissible limitations of end wear, lubricant cannot be thrown beyond the guards. The pump body is preferably of rugged, cast construction to increase the period of usefulness of the device as well as to offset the possibility of injury thereto when the journal box is raised to remove the brass.

The invention is not limited to the details of the structures herein illustrated and described. For instance, the novel lubricator may be advantageously applied to substantially any type of vehicle journal box. The invention may be modified in this and various other respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all such modications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

I claim:

1. In a journal lubricator for insertion in a journal box having a restricted passage between the journal and the box opening, a delivery member shaped to extend part way around the journal, separate pans carried by said member rearwardly and forwardly thereof for supporting lubricant distributing material, each of said pans and the distributing material therein being arranged to receive lubricant from said member, and individual means for supporting said member and each of said pans adjacent the journal.

2. In combination, a journal, a journal box therefor, a pump spaced from said journal, a delivery conduit extending from said pump and comprising relatively movable portions, means yieldingly supporting the portion more remote from said pump, and a pan for material to distribute lubricant to said journal, said pan being carried by said yieldingly supported conduit portion.

3. A combination as specified in claim 2 in which the pump rests upon the iloor of the box and the yielding means for supporting the conduit portion and the distributing pan carried thereby is mounted on said pump.

4. A combination as specified in claim 2 in which the journal box has a downwardly recessed part beneath the journal and the pump body is seated in said recessed part and the yielding means supporting the conduit portion and the distributing pan carried thereby is mounted on said pump.

5. A combination as specified in claim 2 in which the conduit comprises telescoping sections, and said sections, the distributing pan, and the body of the pump are provided with respective interengaging elements to prevent disassembly of the pan, conduit and pump if the bottom of the box is moved away from the journal.

6. In a lubricator of the class described, a pump, a lubricant distributor arranged to be applied to the journal to be lubricated and to be supplied with lubricant by said pump, said distributor comprising a pan structure and a plurality of detachable units each including a series of pads and a casing mounting the same in assembled relation, and means yieldingly and individually supporting said units in said pan structure.

7. In combination, a journal, a journal box therefor, and a mechanical lubricator including a pump comprising a body seated on the bottom of said box and spaced from said journal, a pan for lubricant distributing material, a rigid conduit member having a rocking seat on said body so as to tilt diagonally from a vertical axis, and a conduit extension provided with a spring support on said rigid conduit member and leading from the latter to said pan.

8. In combination, a journal, a journal box therefor and a mechanical lubricator including a pump comprising a body seated on the bottom of said box and spaced from said journal, a rigid conduit member leading from said pump and having a rocking seat on said body so as to tilt diagonally from a vertical position, and a conduit extension in telescoping relation to said member and extending upwardly therefrom into contact with said journal to discharge lubricant from said pump against said journal.

9. In combination, a journal, a journal box therefor and a mechanical lubricator including a pump comprising a body seated on the bottom of said box and spaced from said journal, a pan for holding lubricant distributing material in contact with said journal, a rigid conduit member leading from said pump and having a rocking seat on said body so as to tilt diagonally from a ver- `tical position, and a conduit extension in tele- 

